CARLTON has fallen by 21 points to Collingwood.
In a heated affair between the two old enemies, the efficient Pies led at every change against a spirited Blues outfit, who lost Harry McKay (knee knock) and Adam Cerra (hamstring tightness) in the first half.
Despite taking a narrow lead in the second and third terms, Collingwood had the ascendancy for much of the night on the scoreboard, ultimately prevailing 14.6 (90) to 10.9 (69).
The Blues were on the back foot early, with the Pies kicking the opening three goals of the game. They came on the back of missed opportunities for the Blues, who were left to rue some wastefulness in the early going.
Carlton was dealt an early blow when Harry McKay (knee knock) came from the ground and didn’t return, leaving the Blues without a key attacking threat for the majority of the night.
They needed to dial up their pressure game, and that’s exactly what transpired, with Brodie Kemp winning a big contest inside 50 to open the Blues’ account, before excellent pressure from Talor Byrne set Ben Ainsworth up for his first of the night.
When Jagga Smith pounced on a loose ball inside 50 and converted at the start of the second term, the Blues had wrestled their way back into the lead.
But setting the tone for the next two quarters, the Pies found a way to respond, getting on top in the pressure game and answering whenever the Blues rallied.
The Pies kicked three consecutive goals either side of half time to get the game on their terms, while Adam Cerra (hamstring tightness) didn’t return after the main break.
Carlton’s clearance game well and truly got going early in the third, and produced a blistering five-minute patch to hit the front when both Ainsworth and McGovern recorded their second goals, with Byrne's pressure once again a highlight.
Just as the Blues looked to surge, the Pies managed to get their counter-attack game going, once again rallying to open up a 14-point lead at the final change.
To Carlton’s credit, their appetite for the contest didn’t waver in the final term, despite being undermanned and with Collingwood kicking the opening two goals of the term to open up a game-high lead.
Captain Patrick Cripps fought as he did all night to end with 30 disposals and two goals, while Smith was just as impressive in a 29-disposal, one-goal performance.
A late Collingwood major put the result beyond doubt, with the Blues looking to return to winning form next weekend against Gold Coast.
COLLINGWOOD 3.0 6.2 11.4 14.6 (90)
CARLTON 2.4 4.6 8.8 10.9 (69)
GOALS
Carlton: Ainsworth 2, Cripps 2, McGovern 2, Kemp, Smith
